Hen&#39;s nest.



N0.809,528. PATENTED JAN. 9 1906. G. T. REID.

HENS NEST.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 17,1905.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

CZReid- PATENTED JAN. 9, 1906.

C. T. REID.

HENS NEST.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 17,1905

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

I 1 8 -1 l #0. #1 a: 9 5. 2 M. m /J a m q/vi eases UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

I Patented Jan. 9, 1906.

Application filed July 17, 1905. Serial No. 270,050.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, CHARLES T. REID, a citizen of the United States, residing at Syracuse, in the county of Hamilton and State of Kansas, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Hens Nests, of which the following is a specification.

This invention comprises a novel form of hens nest, the construction and advantages of which will appear more fully hereinafter.

For a full description of the invention and the merits thereof and also to acquire a knowledge of the details of construction reference is to be had to the following description and accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is a perspective view of a nest embodying the invention. Fig. 2 is a vertical longitudinal sectional view of the nest. Fig. 3 is a perspective view showing a side of the nest removed to bring out more clearly the operative connection between the nestsupporting platform and doors. Fig 4 is a horizontal sectional view.

Corresponding and like parts are referred to in the following description and indicated in all the views of the drawings by the same reference characters.

In the practical .embodiment of the invention it is designed that the nest shall comprise a body in the form of a receptacle 1, adapted to inclose and house the hens. The body or receptacle 1 consists of inclosing sides 2, end 3, and top 4, the top being composed of oppositely-sloping portions 4 and 4 The portion 4 of the top is pivotally connected, by means of links 5, with the portion 4 said portion 4 being movable, so as to be thrown back upon the portion 4 in order to admit of access to the interior of the receptacle 1. A suitable catch 6 is used to hold the side portion 4 of the top 4 in its normal position closing the top portion of the receptacle 1, as will be readily apparent. One end 3 of the receptacle 1 is provided with suitable doors 7, which are hingedly or otherwise mounted at opposite sides of the door opening. Two of the doors 7 are adapted to be automatically operated as the hen passes into and out of the nest-receptacle 1. For the above purpose the nest-box or nest 8 in the receptacle 1 is supported near one end of a fulcrumed platform 9 at the base of the receptacle 1 and virtually forming the bottom thereof. The platform 9 is fulcrumed at a point about centrally of its ends, as shown at 10, and the nest 8 is preferably arranged at the end of the platform remote from the doors 7, said nest being supported upon one side of the fulcrum 10 aforesaid. The end of the platform 9 adjacent the doors 7 is operably connected therewith for actuation of the same, and for this purpose a rod 11 is secured to this end of the platform in any substantial way and has its ends projected upwardly, as shown at 12, to form members the upper ends of which are connected with bell-crank levers l3, pivotally mounted upon the end 3 of the receptacle 1 at opposite sides of the dooropening. The levers 13 embody lower short arms, which have pivotal connection at the outer ends thereof with the upper eX- tremities of the members 12, and upper longer arms operatively connected with an adjacent door 7. The upper arms of the lever 13 operate in loops 14, forming a part of engaging members 15, one of which projects rearwardly from each door 7. The engaging members 15 may be described to be of angular form, consisting of an arm from which the loop 14 projects, said loop extending in a plane at an angle to a plane including the door adjacent. In other words, each loop 14, which is engaged by the upper-arm of the adjacent lever 13, inclines rearwardly from the door to which it is attached, so that in the pivotal. movement of the levers 13 the upper arms thereof are adapted for longitudinal movement in the loops 14 to open and close the doors as the platform 9 is actuated. It will thus be seen that the loop members 14, inclining from the doors, as hereinbefore described, virtually form cams with which the levers 13 coact in the operation of closing and opening said doors.

transverse bar 16 extends across the door-opening at the top portionof the end 3 on which the doors are mounted, and upon this bar is arranged a U-shaped lock member 17, the sides of which are movable in vertical openings in the bar 16. The upper ends of the sides of the member 17 project outwardly, as shown at 18, to form finger-pieces adapted to be grasped in order to raise and lower the member 17. Hooloshaped catches 19, carried by the doors 7, are adapted to be engaged by the cross-bar of the lock member 17 and when so engaged said lock member positively prevents opening of the doors 7.

In operation, the doors 7 being open, as the hen enters the nest and receptacle 1 the Weight of the animal is received upon the end of the platform 9. The hen will then step into the nest 8, and as this nest is supported by the opposite end of the platform 9 the latter will be tilted so as to raise the end which is adjacent the doors 7. The members 12 will be caused to move upwardly by the above action. The levers 13 have pivotal movement imparted thereto, and the upper arms of said levers sliding in the loops 14 of the engaging members 15 bear against the inner sides of the loops and by a sort of cam action force the doors 7 into closed positions. So long as the weight of the hen is upon the end of the platform 9 remote from the doors 7 the upper ends of the levers 13 will be so engaged with the loops 14 as to prevent opening of the doors 7 from a point without the nest. As soon as the hen moves away from the nest 8, however, in order to pass from the nest-receptacle the end of the platform 9 adjacent the doors is depressed, and the upper ends of the levers 13 are caused to move outwardly or toward the sides 2, engaging with the outer extremities of the loops 14, and thereby pulling upon the doors 7 to throw the same open. The hen can then of course pass freely out of the nest-receptacle, the operation of the doors 7 being entirely automatic, as above described.

From the foregoing it will be noted that when a hen has entered the receptacle 1 the doors 7 will be automatically closed, and the hen is not liable to be disturbed by other hens or other animals. Further, hens with broods can roost in the nest and can be readily locked in the receptacle 1 by use of the lock member 17 in cooperation with the catches 19.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new is 1. In combination, a nest-receptacle including inclosing sides, a door for said receptacle, a pivoted platform mounted in the receptacle, a nest upon said platform, a lever pivoted at a point between its ends and connected at one end with the platform, the opposite end of the lever having a loose sliding connection with said door as specified.

2. In combination, a nest-receptacle embodying inclosing sides, a door for said receptacle, a platform fulcrumed in the receptacle, a nest mounted on the platform, a cam applied to the door, and a lever connected with the platform and coacting with said cam to effect opening and closing of the door on movement of the platform.

3. In combination, a nest-receptacle embodying inclosing sides, doors for the receptacle, a platform fulcrumed in the receptacle, a nest supported upon the platform at one side of the fulcrum thereof, and at the end remote from the doors, and means for connecting the opposite ends of the platform with the doors including levers having a sliding connection with the latter.

4. In combination, a nest-receptacle, doors therefor, a platform pivoted between its ends in the receptacle, engaging members carried by the doors including loops, levers connected with the loops and with the adjacent end of the platform aforesaid, and a nest sup ported by the opposite end of the platform and upon the opposite side of the fulcrum thereof.

5. In combination, a nest-receptacle, doors therefor, engaging members projected from the inner sides of the doors and including loops inclined with regard thereto, levers pivoted to the receptacle, each lever having one end thereof operating in the loop of the adjacent engaging member, a in the nest-receptacle having operative connection with the levers aforesaid, and a nest supported by said platform.

6. In combination, a nest-receptacle embodying inclosing sides, a door for said receptacle, a platform fulcrumed in .the receptacle, a cam attached to one side of the door, and a lever pivoted between its ends to the receptacle, one end of the lever being connected with the platform, the opposite end of the lever having operable connection with the cam of the door, whereby when said platform is moved the door is actuated.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

CHARLES T. REID. Witnesses:

V10. L. HARRIS, A. F. ZINK.

pivoted platform 

